By: Nancy Smith
| Posted: October 29, 2012 3:55 AM
Attorney General Pam Bondi's impassioned stand last week against turning Florida's $334 million mortgage-fraud settlement into raises for state employees was nothing less than heroic.
By: Rene Garcia
| Posted: October 25, 2012 3:55 AM
This campaign season, candidates on the national, state and local levels continue to discuss the best ways to provide relief to struggling families and paths toward economic growth.
"Housing Market Setback Forecast" the newspaper headline said. A recently released report on housing says that home sales are down more than 25 percent and the inventory of unsold homes is about 50 percent higher than it was the same time last year.
A RealtyTrac report shows Florida leading the way in new foreclosure-related filings over the first six months of 2010. Business and political leaders say letting taxes increase in 2011 when benefits expire could worsen foreclosures and kill economic growth.
Bolstering the power and reach of Florida's condominium associations, a new state law allows the groups to collect rent from tenants.
Senate Bill 1196, signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Crist, empowers condo associations to collect rent money directly from tenants in units of delinquent owners.
Beleaguered condominium associations, weighed down by foreclosed units and delinquent owners, are seeking relief from renters.
At least five bills before the Florida Legislature contain provisions that would empower associations to collect past, present and future fees from tenants.
